Cramps (Muscle)

A mineral deficiency of calcium
and/or magnesium is probably the most
frequent cause
of night leg cramping.

Cramps are often caused by a lack of
potassium,
resulting in an electrytic imbalance. Strenuous exercise with
sweating
and diarrhea or other bowel disease may cause loss of
potassium and
other important minerals. It is very important to replace them
with
supplements. Some people get leg cramps at night for no
apparent reason.

Another cause may be a deficiency in
hesperidin,
one of the bioflavonoids (sometimes called vitamin P),
naturally occurring
nutrients usually found in association with vitamin C. These
bioflavonoids,
including Hesperidin, Citrin, Rutin, Flavones, Flavonals,
Calechin and
Quercetin, were found to be essential in correcting the night
leg cramps.

Wine induces stomach cramps in
some people.
To ease the cramps or perhaps eliminate them altogether, take
some
olive oil before imbibing. Try some oil on bread, or on a
salad.

Milk and other dairy
products
can cause abdominal cramping, bloating, gas and discomfort in
some women.
If you are eating dairy products to get calcium, try switching
to yogurt,
lentils, broccoli, cabbage, tofu, collard and other greens,
turnips,
rhubarb and almonds.

Gastroenteritis, caused by a
virus
that has entered the digestive tract or contaminated food or
water,
causes inflammation, cramping, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Severe
cases can lead to dehydration, so be sure to drink fluids and
balance
your electrolytes (take Pedialyte for young children and the
elderly,
and sports drinks for everybody else.)

Diarrhea caused by intestinal parasites
is the third leading
cause of illness. If you have a number of the following
symptoms: gas,
diarrhea, chronic constipation, bloating, fatigue, skin
rashes, nail
biting, mood swings, insomnia, dry skin, brittle hair, hair
loss, weight
gain, bad breath, and muscle cramping, you should be tested
for parasites.

Tips

To stop leg/foot cramping, firmly press in on the
upper lip. This is the meridian which is connected to the legs
and feet.

Take a hot shower before going to bed,
letting the water run down the part of your leg that gets
cramps.
Or, if you get cramps in the night, take a shower then. Get
the water
as hot as you can stand it, as this will help relax the
muscles.

If you are in bed when you get a leg cramp, stretch
your leg straight out and bend the toes back toward
your
head. Hold in this position for 30 seconds, relax, and
repeat until
the cramp is gone.This will stretch out your calf muscle.
You may
also do this standing up - push your heel onto the floor and
bend
your toes upward. This forces the calf muscle to lengthen.

If you get leg cramps frequently at night, start a stretching
regimen before bed. Try pressing your toes against a
wall
to stretch out the calf muscles; hold for 30 seconds, relax,
repeat
several times.

Cramping often comes while you are exercising. follow
these tips:

Keep hydrated. As you sweat, you
lose important electrolytes, which are needed to prevent
cramps.

Warm up for 10-15 minutes before
exercising. This will stretch out the muscles you will be
using.

If you exercise and get cramps after eating,
you have probably begun your exercise too soon after eating.
As
you digest, your body diverts blood from your muscles and
cramping
can result.

Take magnesium, potassium and calcium supplements
daily, especially before exercising.

Remedies

Folk

Apple cider vinegar Drink a mixture of two teaspoons
of vinegar
and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of warm water. Apple
cider vinegar
is high in potassium.

Aspirin (or ibuprofen) taken at the earliest
signs
of menstrual cramps will help relieve them.
Aspirin
helps stop the production of prostaglandins, part of the
process that
causes cramps.

Calcium A calcium deficiency causes muscle
cramps
or involuntary movement of muscles. If you are prone to leg
cramps at
night, take a calcium supplement (calcium lactate is
preferred), a warm
cup of milk, or chew on some Tums an hour before going to bed.
However,
we do not recommend taking Tums on a regular basis due
to its
interference with your normal digestive process. We suggest
that if
you get frequent leg cramps you take a calcium supplement
daily. Taking
magnesium with the calcium will aid in the absorption of the
calcium
and prevent calcification of various organs and soft tissues.
200-300
mg of calcium before bedtime is recommended.

Chamomile tea A study showed that drinking
five cups
of this tea each day for two weeks reduced the pain of menstrual
cramps. The tea increased the level of glycine in the
urine.
Glycine is an amino acid that helps relieve muscle spasms and
relax
the uterus.

CoQ10 may aid in relieving muscle cramps.

Magnesium will help the smooth muscles that
surround
your arteries to relax, and your body uses it to process
calcium. Try
taking 400 mg of magnesium before bed. A calcium/magnesium
supplement,
taken one hour before bedtime, is recommended.

Mustard For years coaches have given mustard
to their
athletes with leg cramps. Cramps are sometimes caused by a
deficiency
in acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter that stimulates your
muscles
to work. Mustard has acetic acid, which helps the body make
more acetylcholine.
Take a spoonful or two of mustard.

Pickle juice As with mustard coaches have
given pickle juice to their athletes with leg cramps.
Cramps are sometimes caused by a deficiency in acetylcholine,
the neurotransmitter
that stimulates your muscles to work. Pickle juice has acetic
acid, which helps the body make more acetylcholine. Take a few
ounces
of pickle juice.

Quinine/tonic water Drinking four to eight
ounces of
tonic water (make sure it has quinine in it!) an hour before
going to bed is a very effective remedy for most people. If it
is too tart for you, add some lemon for flavoring. You should
notice
a difference within a few days, otherwise discontinue. OTC
quinine was
banned by the FDA because of health risks, but there is enough
quinine
in tonic water to help most people. See the Hyland's
homeopathic remedy
below for another similar option.

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